Our labels...

[BVS]

Our political labels here in America, what do they mean? Do they need to be re-defined?

I started thinking about this after a conversation tonight. I had dinner with a very Repulican friend of mine. Now when I say Republican friend I mean this guy thinks the Republican party is the absolute truth. He thinks they can't do wrong. So normally I stay away from politics with him, but tonight I slipped, and he called me a "pinko-commie". Now I thought this attack on liberals went out the door long ago but apparently not.

Now to my point. Political parties have taken on different defintions before and I'm wondering if we're at the dawn of another change.

It use to be that Republican = less government, and Democrat = bigger government. But with the Patriot act, diving into marriage ammendments, nation building, etc are the Republicans changing the defintion of political parties? Or is this a fluke administration? Or am I just wrong?

It seems to me this administration is turning into big government.

What are your thoughts? First how would you define the parties, and do you think it's changing or staying the same?

 

[Macfistowannabe]

I think it's changing, for better or worse depending on which side you are on. I have a couple liberal friends whom I agree occasionally with them on certain issues, question some of the things they support, and lie somewhere between on others. It seems as though both sides feel they are doing the "moral thing" and feel as though the other side doesn't get it.

I don't have a problem with the Republican Party turning into bigger government than before, considering that I feel taxation especially is a very minor issue in today's society. The economy still remains a very more serious issue, and I can easily understand that not every tax cut is a good tax cut. I can also understand that a slight surplus is insuring for the country. My main concern about taxation is that the money should be well-spent, and money should be spent in order to benefit society.

No, liberal doesn't usually mean pinko-commie. Liberal generally means libertarian stances on most social issues, but populist-leaning stances on taxation and gun control. These days, it could mean anti-war and less military intervention. In the same way, conservative doesn't mean racist gun slinging naziist hate mongerers, or extreme religious zealots. Instead, more traditional stances on social issues, and less spending would sound more accurate and universal, although personally I can't say President Bush falls into the less spending camp as often as we would like.

As far as the democrats, I think the party is trying to save itself, or redefine itself. I don't know which direction they are headed, but I think they may make an effort to appeal closer to the center on social issues and eventually find an all-star (Obama isn't ready yet, obviously) to run in 2008. I think if they identify themselves as a party that is serious about law enforcement (not necessarily meaning pro-death penalty, but more vocal about crime and stricter sentences), they have a better chance.

 

[DaveC]

"pinko-commie"



i woulda laughed my ass off

 

[BVS]

"pinko-commie"



i woulda laughed my ass off

I did.

I just can't believe terms like this and "socialist" still are thrown at liberals.

 

[A_Wanderer]

I think that these labels are totally useless ~ maybe there should be standardised explainations.

for instance;

pro-free market ~ limited government ~ liberalism

state controlled economy ~ government influence over citizens ~ conservatism

You cannot dumb down political ideology to broad schools of thought.

 

[BVS]

You cannot dumb down political ideology to broad schools of thought.

But the average person does. I still hear people say "I vote Republican because they're less government."

I mean my friend is 29 and he's calling me a "pinko-commie". People are stuck in defintions from yesterday.

 

[BonosSaint]

I'm not afraid of being called a liberal. Call me socialist even if you want to. Pinko communist? A little outdated, but it has a little nostalgic charm. ( Macfist, I agree with you completely in your analysis. A conservative with whom I have common ground) Maybe it's time for a viable third party. Well, maybe viable third party in this country is an oxymoron. God knows, neither party speaks for me. How many posters feel disenfranchised by either party?

 

[BVS]

How many posters feel disenfranchised by either party?

I for one, I would love a few more viable parties, but I think we're a long way from that.

 

[Macfistowannabe]

I would LOVE to have a third or fourth party, equally powerful as the two parties we have right now. It presents more options, a better variety in priorities, and more points of view. What we have now is a little goofy, it seems as though you can't support gun control if you support faith-based recovery programs. That's what the system is trying to tell us, and frankly, I don't entirely fit in with either party.

 

[deep]

"pinko-commie"



i woulda laughed my ass off

I think fairness dictates that you should have pulled

both examples for some context

liberal doesn't usually mean pinko-commie.

conservative doesn't mean racist gun slinging naziist hate mongerers, or extreme religious zealots.

 

[earthshell]

Our political labels here in America, what do they mean? Do they need to be re-defined?

I started thinking about this after a conversation tonight. I had dinner with a very Repulican friend of mine. Now when I say Republican friend I mean this guy thinks the Republican party is the absolute truth. He thinks they can't do wrong. So normally I stay away from politics with him, but tonight I slipped, and he called me a "pinko-commie". Now I thought this attack on liberals went out the door long ago but apparently not.

shit, dude. i wonder what his take is on abu ghraib. thinking the republican party is the "absolute truth" is fucking retardedness and you are witnessing it.